Adhesive applying apparatus for envelope making machines



Jan. 17, 1956 L. c. PEARCE 2,730,989

ADHESIVE APPLYING APPARATUS FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES Filed NOV. 16,1953 2 Shets-Sheet l INVENTOR- LEVV/S C p.541? CE L. C. PEARCE Jan. 17,1956 ADHESIVE APPLYING APPARATUS FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1953 INVENTOR. LA W/J C PEARCE flrrafn/irsUnited States ADHESIVE APPLYING FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES Lewis C.Pearce, 'Berea, Ohioyassignorto Pearce Development Company, Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation of-Ohio Application November 16, 1953, Serial No.392,207 Claims. (or. r le-221 This invention relates to a novel form ofadhesive applying means, and more 'particularly'to a novel form 'ofadhesive applying means particularly adapted for applying mating stripsor spots of adhesive, for example latex, to the backs and flaps ofenvelopes.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an adhesive applyingmechanism'wh'erein the adhesive supply noule floats on a film ofadhesive onthe surface of the applicator roller.

Another object of the invention is to provide an' adhesive applyingmechanism for applying mating spots orstrips of adhesive to the flapsand backs of envelopes, wherein the adhesive supplying-nozzle floats ona'film of adhesiv on the surface of the applicator'r'oller.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view embodying the principles of my inventionshowing the manner-in which the envelopes are conveyed vpast theadhesive applying and drying stations.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken onli'ne 3-- 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial view similar-to that shown in Fig. 2 drawn to anenlarged scale and showing the nozzle in section.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein isimjilar reference numerals areused to designate similariparts through out the various views, letter Agenerally indicatestthe loading zone where the envelopes to :begummedare stacked. B generally indicates the gumming station and Cgenerally indicates the drying station.

The various elements and assemblies are supported on a frame generallyindicated at 10. An operatorstplatform 12 is located adjacent .oneend'of the frame 10. Closely adjacent to the operators-platform at :theloading station Ais a stack of envelopes 17 having their flaps :18 inextended or open position. The envelopes are fed progressively forwardone at a time-; fr om the bottom of said stack (by a machine not shown)to be engaged between two sets of opposed conveyor tapes, only the upperset 15 being shown in Fig. 1. The upper set :of tapes 15 is trained overa drive roller 16 mounted in frame 10 and arr idler roller 17 supportedon two'arms extending outwardly from the end of the frame. One of thesearms is shown at '18. The lower setof tapes is trained over a driveroller (not shown) located vertically below the drive roller 16 inopposed relation thereto and over an idler roller 19 supported onthe-arms 18in thesame hori zontal plane as the corresponding driveroller. The enve'lopes, after passing the idler roller 19, no longerbeing supported by the bottom set of conveyor tapes, drop onto aconveyor belt 20 which travels at right angles to the direction oftravel of .the conveyor tapes 15. The tenvelopes fall on the conveyorbelt20 inpartial overlapping relation with only the gummedportiohsthereof exposed. a

In this condition, they pass through the drying station C wherein theyare subjected tothe drying action of "a forced drying mechanism,illustrated herein by way of example as a battery cf infrared'lam'ps'21.

The envelopes are passed -fhrough the-adhesive applying station 'B bymeans of conveyor tapes 15 and pass under two adhesive applying rollers22 and 23 which'print strips of adhesive 24 and 25, respectively, on thebacks and flaps of theenvelo'pes. As best shown in Fig. 3, the adhesiveapplying rollers 22 and'23 are driven for rotation by means of a shaft26, which is geared to the mechanism for driving the conveyor tapes 15,having fixedly mounted thereon two gears 27 and 28. The gear 27 mesheswith a gear 29 mounted on a shaft '30 which also supports the adhesiveapplying roller '22. Similarly, the gear 28 meshes with 'a gearSlmounted on a shaft 32 which supports the adhesive applying roller'23.The rollers 22 and 23 are each adjustable on their respective shafts 30and 32, whereby the spacing of the rollers withrespect to the envelopesmay be changed. The shaft 30 is rotatably supported in one end of an arm33, the other end of which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 26.Similarly, shaft 32 is rotatably mounted'in one end of an arm 34 whichalso is rotatably mounted on shaft 26. Thus, the arms with the rollersmounted on their ends are adapted to pivot toward and away from the pathof the envelopes about the shaft 26.

Two arms 35 and 36 are each pivotally supported on one of their ends ona shaft 39 mounted in the frame of the machine with its axis parallel tothe axes of rotat-ion of rollers 22 and 23. The arm 35 supports on itsother end an adhesive applying nozzle 37 for applying adhesive to thesurface of the adhesive applying roller 22, and, similarly, the arm 36supports on its other end an adhesive applying nozzle 38 for applyingadhesive to'the surface of the adhesive applying roller 23. The adhesiveapplying nozzles 37 and 38 are supplied with fluid control valves 40 andl under the control of hand wheels 42 and 43, respectively. The adhesiveis supplied to said ported by a vertical member 49 suitably attached toany convenient portion of the frame 10 of the machine.

Mounted on a shaft 501:, having its axis parallel to the axes ofrotation of the adhesive applying rolls and located therebelow isaback-up roller 50. 'Roller 50 is in opposed relation to the adhesiveapplying rollers 22 and 23 and carries on its periphery back-up padssuch as indicated at 51. Said back-up pads are arranged on roller Si? inthe desired pattern of adhesive on the envelopes, it being evident thatthe adhesive applying rollers will only apply adhesive in the areacontaining back-up pads 51. An adjustable weight 52 is pivotally mountedat one of its ends on the shaft 26. The opposite end of the weight 52 isformed as .a sector gear '53. The sector gear 53 meshes with a gear-'54fixed to the shaft 39. The weight 52 tends to rotate clockwise, asviewed in Fig. 2, and thus tends to "rotate the shaft 39 and the nozzlesupporting arms 35 and 36 fixed thereto counterclockwise to move thenozzles 37 and 38 toward their associated applicator rollers. The weight52 is adjustable in that additionalweightzmay be added thereto, or takentherefrom, to regulate the pressure 'ur'ging'the nozzles 37 and 38toward their associated applicator rollers 22 and 23.

The operation of the device is as follows: The operator stacks theenvelopes 13' at the loading station A, from which the envelopes are fedprogressively one at a time from the bottom of the stack of envelopes(by a mechanism not shown) between the upper and lower sets of tapes 15."The tapes carry the envelopes past the gumming stationwhereintheenvelopes .pass between said applicator rollers 22 and 23, and theback-up roller 59, and the adhesive is applied "to the envelopes. Afterthe envelopes pass the idler "roller 19 for the lower set of tapes, theydrop onto the conveyor 20. Since the previous envelope has moved towardthe right in the view seen in Fig. 1, the envelope will drop in partialoverlapping relation thereto, leaving exposed only the portion of theprevious envelope which has the adhesive applied thereto. The envelopesare carried by the conveyor 29, while in said partial overlappingrelation, under the infrared drying lamps 21 and then to a packingdevice or other handling equipment.

in the operation of the adhesive applying mechanism, the adhesive issupplied from a tank 46 under pressure through hoses 44 and 45 to thenozzles 37 and 38. It will be noted that due to the pivotal arrangementof the arm 36 supporting the nozzle 38, the axis of the nozzle 33 isinclined to a. radius of the applicator roller 23 in such manner thatthe trailing of the nozzle 'is closer to the surface of the applicatorroller than the leading edge thereof, whereby any excess of adhesiveclinging to the surface of the roller 23 is adapted to flow back intothe nozzle and will not be scraped off the roller by the leading edge ofthe nozzle.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to beunderstood that various changes may pivotal movement about an axisparallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation of said roller, theaxis of the nozzles being inclined to the radius of said roller drawnthrough the point of contact between said nozzle and the periphery ofsaid roller in such manner that the trailing edge of the'nozzle iscloser to the surface of the roller than the leading edge, whereby saidnozzle tends to float on the film of the adhesive on the surface of theroller.

2. In an adhesive applying device, an applicator roller, a nozzle forapplying adhesive to the surface of said roller, means supporting saidnozzle for unrestricted 'pivotal movement about an axis parallel to butspaced from the axis of rotation of said roller, the axis of the nozzlebeing inclined to the radius of said roller drawn through the point ofcontact between said nozzle and the periphery of said roller in such amanner that the trailing edge of the nozzle is closer to the surface ofthe roller than the leading edge, whereby said nozzle tends to float onthe film of adhesive on the surface of the roller, and means applying aweight to the nozzle to control the thiclo ness of the layer of adhesiveon the surface of the roller.

3. in an adhesive applying device, an applicator roller, a nozzle forapplying adhesive to the surface of said roller, means for pivotallymounting said nozzle for unrestricted pivotal movement about an axisparallel to the axis of rotation of the roller, the axis of the nozzlebeing inclined to a radius of the roller in such a manner that thetrailing edge of the nozzle is closer to the surface of the roller thanthe leading edge, whereby said nozzle tends to float on the film ofadhesive on the surface of the roller, and means for supplying adhesiveunder pressure to said nozzle.

4. In an adhesive applying device, an applicator roller, a nozzle forapplying adhesive to the surface of said roller, means for pivotallymounting said nozzle for unrestricted pivotal movement about an axisparallel to the axis of rotation of the roller, the axis of the nozzlebeing inclined to a radius of the roller in such a mannor that thetrailing edge of the nozzle is closer to the surface of the roller thanthe leading edge, whereby said nozzle tends to float on the film ofadhesive on the surface of the roller, and means for supplying adhesivev 4 under pressure to said nozzle, and means for applying a weight tothe nozzle to control the thickness of the adhesive on the surface ofthe roller.

5. In an adhesive applying device, an applicator roller, a nozzle forapplying adhesive to the surface of said roller, means for pivotallymounting saidnozzle for unrestricted pivotal movement about an axisparallel to the axis of rotation of the roller, the axis of said nozzlebeing inclined to a radius of the roller in such a mannet that thetrailing edge of the nozzle is closer to the surface of the roller thanthe leading edge, whereby said nozzle tends to float on the film ofadhesive on the surface of the roller, means for supplying adhesiveunder pressure to said nozzle, means for controlling the rate of flow ofadhesive to said nozzle.

6. in an adhesive applying device, an applicator roller, a nozzle forapplying adhesive to the surface of said roller, means for pivotallymounting said nozzle for unrestricted pivotal rnovement about an axisparallel'to the axis of rotation of the roller, the axis of said nozzlebeing inclined to a radius of the roller in such a manner that thetrailing edge of the nozzle is closer tothc surface of the roller thanthe leading edge, whereby said nozzle tends to float on the film ofadhesive on the surface of the roller, means for supplying adhesiveunder pressure to said nozzle, means for controlling the rate of flow ofadhesive to said nozzle, and means for applying a weight to the nozzleto control the thickness of the adhesive on the surface of the roller.

7. In a device for applying adhesive to mating areas of the body andflap portions of an envelope, a pair of adhesive applying rollers, apair of backup rollers in opposed relation to said adhesive applyingrollers, first conveyor means to move the envelopes sideways betweensaid pairs of rollers, second conveyor means running at right angles tosaid first conveyor means upon which said envelopes are deposited asthey leave said first eonveyor means, the second conveyor means runningat a speed relative to the speed of said first conveyor means,

enabling the envelopes to be deposited thereon in overlapping spreadrelation with only the gummed portions thereof exposed, and meansmounted above said second conveyor means for drying the adhesive stripson said envelopes, and means for applying a film of adhesive to thesurfaces of said adhesive applying rollers.

8 In a device for applying adhesive to mating areas of the body and flapportions of an envelope, a pair of adhesive applying rollers, a pair ofback-up rollers in opposed relation to said adhesive applying rollers, afirst conveyor means to move the envelopes sideways between said pairsof rollers, a second conveyor means running at right angles to saidfirst conveyor means upon which said envelopes are deposited as theyleave said first con veyor means, the second conveyor means running at aspeed relative to the speed of said first conveyor means, enabling theenvelopes to be deposited thereon in overlapping spread relation withonly the gummed portions thereof exposed, means mounted above saidsecond conveyor means for drying the adhesive strips on said en velopes,a pair of nozzles-for applying adhesive to the surfaces of said adhesiveapplying rollers, means supporting said nozzles for unrestricted pivotalmovement about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotationof said rollers, the axis of said nozzles being inclined to the radiusof said rollers drawn through the point of contact between each of saidnozzles and the periphery of its associated roller in such manner thatthe trailing edges of the nozzles are closer to the surfaces of saidadhesive applying rollers than the leading edges, whereby said nozzlestend to float'on the adhesive filrn on the surface of said adhesiverollers.

' 9. In a device for applying adhesive to mating areas of the body andflap portions of an envelope, a pair of adhesive applying rollers, apair of back-up rollers in opposed relation to said adhesive applyingrollers, a first conveyor means to move the envelopes sideways betweensaid pairs of rollers, a second conveyor means running at right anglesto said first conveyor means upon which said envelopes are deposited asthey leave said first conveyor means, the second conveyor means runningat a speed relative to the speed of said first conveyor means, enablingthe envelopes to be deposited thereon in overlapping spread relationwith only the gummed portions thereof exposed, means mounted above saidsecond conveyor means for drying the adhesive strips on said envelopes,a pair of nozzles for applying adhesive to the surfaces of said adhesiverollers, means for pivotally mounting said nozzles for pivotal movementabout an axis parallel to the axes of rotation of the adhesive applyingrollers, the axes of the nozzles being inclined to the radius of saidadhesive applying rollers drawn through the point of contact betweeneach of said nozzles and the periphery of its associated roller in sucha manner that the trailing edge of the nozzles are closer to thesurfaces of said adhesive applying rollers than the leading edges,whereby said nozzles tend to float on the film of adhesive on saidsurfaces, and means for applying weight to said nozzles to control thethickness of the adhesive on said surfaces.

10. In a device for applying adhesive to mating areas of the body andflap portions of an envelope, a pair of adhesive applying rollers, apair of back-up rollers in opposed relation to said adhesive applyingrollers, a first conveyor means to move the envelopes sideways betweensaid pairs of rollers, a second conveyor means running at right anglesto said first conveyor means upon which said envelopes are deposited asthey leave said first conveyor means, the second conveyor means runningat a speed relative to the speed of said first conveyor means, enablingthe envelopes to be deposited thereon in overlapping spread relationwith only the gummed portions thereof exposed, means mounted above saidsecond conveyor means for drying the adhesive strips on said envelopes,a pair of nozzles for applying adhesive to the surfaces of said adhesiveapplying rollers, means for pivotally mounting said nozzles for pivotalmovement about an axis parallel to the axes of rotation of the adhesiveapplying rollers, the axes of said nozzles being inclined to the radiusof the rollers drawn through the point of contact between each of saidnozzles and the periphery of its associated roller in such a manner thatthe trailing edges of the nozzles are closer to the surfaces of therollers than the leading edges, whereby said nozzles tend to float onthe film of adhesive on the surfaces of the rollers, means for supplyingadhesive under pressure to said nozzles, means for controlling the rateof flow of adhesive to said nozzles, and means for applying weight tothe nozzles to control the thickness of the adhesive on the surfaces ofthe rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,273,021 Cox, Ir Feb. 17, 1942 2,549,579 Dearsley Apr. 17, 19512,649,758 Cowgill Aug. 25, 1953

